Message device



Mal'h 5 1940. L. E. ANDERsoN 2,192,607

MESSAGE DEVICE Filed May 26, 1939 MESSAGE PAP|:R& PsNcu.

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Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention comprises a message device including all of the needed facilities for writing messages and enclosing them for privacy, together with a protective enclosure and supporting means, which supporting means preferably comprises a flexible suspending member extending through the several parts of the device to hold them against complete separation and dissociation and yet, at the same time permitting a suiiicient displacement of the parts of the device, so that it may be used and its several advantages may be realized.

My invention is addressed to those who, during their absence from home or office, may have callers of suiicient importance to warrant leaving messages of their calls, if facilities were at hand to do so. In the past, ordinary memorandum pads have been used for this purpose, with indifferent success. Usually in such cases, individual enclosing means are not at hand to afford privacy for the messages, no indications are afforded that messages have been written and are awaiting the absentee, and Where such memorandum pads have been used out-of-doors, no means have been provided to protect the pads from the weather, which of itself is sumcient to make the practice undesirable.

By my invention I provide a block or pad of removable blank sheets of paper, with a stiffening cover tothe back wall of which the block or pad is permanently secured; the front wall of the cover is preferably also of stiff material secured at its upper edge to the upper edge of the back wall by a flexible backing covering the upper edge of the block or pad when the cover is closed; the outer surface of the front wall is preferably provided with a pocket or pockets to receive enclosed and sealed messages, and also with printed matter stating the nature of the device, its manner of use, and, if desired, providing blank spaces for the name, address and telephone number of the owner; the back surface of the front wall of the cover, is provided with a pocket containing envelopes to receive and seal therein messages that may be written, which envelopes preferably bear on their faces the printed word Message, or other distinctive indication, so that a message or messages in the pocket or pockets on the outer surface of the cover, will at once attract the attention of the owner on his return; a protective enclosure of suitable material which is preferably transparent, for example, Cellophane or Celluloid, in thin sheet form, is provided to enclose the cover in closed condition, on all sides excepting its bottom, which protects the pad and cover from the weather when the cover is closed and in the protective enclosure, for out-of-door use, without in any way interfering with seeing the outer surface of the cover and any sealed messages it may carry; and the parts are connected against complete dissociation by exible means, for example a cord, extending through the protective enclosure and through the flexible backing of the cover, which also serves as a hanger for the message device when not in use, affording a convenient means for hanging the device on a hook, door-knob or any similar support. The flexible connecting and supporting means are so proportioned that the protective enclosure may readily be moved from the pad cover to facilitate using the pad.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which Fig. l illustrates the message device in perspective elevation, in closed condition when not in use,

Fig. 2 illustrates the device in perspective elevation with the protective enclosure raised and the pad cover opened for use, and

Fig. 3 illustrates the device in perspective elevation, with the pad cover closed and supporting an enclosed message, and before the protective enclosure has been moved to a position around the pad and its cover.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawing, the message device consists of a pad I0 of readily detachable blank sheets of paper secured to and carried by a stiff back wall II of the pad cover, the upper edge of which is connected with the stii front wall l2 of the pad cover, by a flexible backing I3 of suitable material, for example. fabric, leather or the like.

A protective enclosure I4 of suitable material, for example, transparent sheet Cellophane or Celluloid is provided to surround the pad and cover when not in use, which enclosure has front, back, side and top walls, but is open at its bottom, so it may readily be moved vertically upward from around the pad and cover, and also downward to enclose the pad and cover when desired, said enclosure resting on the flexible backing I3 when the device is not in use. Said enclosure serves to protect the pad and cover from the elements when the device is used out-ofdoors. The enclosure I4 is preferably made of transparent material, but I do not limit myself thereto, as opaque material may be employed if preferred, either with or without transparent sight openings, and carrying any desired printed matter indicating the nature and manner of use of the device.

A suspending cord I5 extends through the top wall of the enclosure I4 and through the backing I3, to hang the device on any suitable support I6 (Fig. 1), such as a nail, hook, door knob or the like. Eyelets I1 and I8 are preferably provided around the cord I5 in the enclosure I4 and in the backing I3 respectively, to prevent wear of the parts. The length of the cord is suflicient to permit moving the enclosure from the cover I I, I2 to facilitate using the pad I0, as shown in Fig. 2, but without permitting complete separation of the enclosure from the cover.

As shown in Fig. 2, the inner surface of the front wall I2 of the cover, is provided with a pocket I9 to contain envelopes 2l), which are preferably gummed for sealing purposes, for the convenience of the user. The lower portion of the front wall I2 of the cover, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided on its outer surface with corner pockets 2I to receive an envelope or envelopes 20 containing messages written by users of the device. The envelopes 20 are preferably provided on their outer faces with distinctive printing, for example, the word Message, so the owner of the device on his return, may see at a glance, through the transparent enclosure I4, whether there are any messages awaiting him.

The front surface of the back wall II of the cover, is preferably provided at its upper edge portion adjacent the edge of the pad I0, with a hook 22, or equivalent device, for supporting a pencil 23, the latter being readily removable for the convenience of the user, and held in place on its support when the enclosure I4 is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In using the device, the cord I5 may be removed from its support I6, the enclosure I4 is then raised to its upper position and the front wall I2 of the cover isopened to the position shown in Fig. 2, the message is written on the pad II), detached therefrom and enclosed in an envelope 2D, the cover is closed, the envelope 20 containing the message is placed in the pockets 2| and the pencil 23 is hung on the hook 22 as shown in Fig. 3, the enclosure I4 is moved to its lower position on the cord I5 illustrated in Fig. l, and the device is again hung on its support I6, ready for further use or for the owner.

My device thus provides all needed facilities in readily available association, for Writing desired messages, enclosing and sealing them, and displaying them in conspicuous position, together with protective means enclosing and protecting the parts when not in use, the device being readily understandable and usable by anyone, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and most effective for its contemplated purposes above referred to.

While I have shown by invention in the particular embodiment above described, it wi'l be understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as I may employ equivalents thereof without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, and a flexible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure. i

2. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, and a exible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said enclosure being of material protecting said pad from the weather for out-of-doors use of the device.

3. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, and a flexible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from Said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said enclosure being of transparent sheet material.

4. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, a exible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said enclosure being of transparent sheet material, and a front cover flexibly connected with said pad and provided on its outer face with means for supporting messages.

5. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, a flexible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said enclosure being of transparent sheet material, and a front cover flexibly connected with said pad and provided on its outer face with means for supporting messages and provided on its inner face with means for supporting envelopes for messages.

6. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, a flexible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said enclosure being of transparent sheet material, a stifening back cover secured to said pad, a front cover for said pad provided on its outer face with means for supporting messages, and a flexible member connecting the upper end portions of said front and back covers.

7. In a message holding and displaying device,

the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, a exible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, and a front cover flexibly connected with said pad and provided on its outer face with means for supporting messages.

8. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, and a flexible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad. and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said suspending device comprising a doubled cord extending at its end portions through spaced apertures in the top wall of said enclosure and connected at its ends with said pad.

9. In a message holding and displaying device, the combination of a pad of memorandum sheets, a protective enclosure open at its lower end for containing said pad and movable away from and to enclose said pad at will, a exible suspending device extending through the top of said enclosure and loosely connecting said pad and said enclosure and preventing complete separation of said enclosure from said pad, and serving also as a guide when manipulating said enclosure, said enclosure being of transparent sheet material, a stiiening back cover secured to said pad, a front cover i'or said pad provided on its outer face with means for supporting messages, and a flexible member connecting the upper end portions o! said front and back covers, said suspending device comprising a doubled cord extending at its end portions through spaced apertures in go the top wall of said enclosure and connected at its ends with said flexible member.

LUTHER E. ANDERSON. 

